Kanak Tribes in New Caledonia

Since 2002, CI has been working with the Kanak tribes of Province Nord, New Caledonia, to manage the Mont Panié Protected Area on the territory’s northeast coast. As part of that effort, CI helped to establish Dayu Biik, the first indigenous non-government organization in Province Nord.

ARTICLE: Kanak Traditions Guide Future Conservation.

Dayu Biik brings together customary tribal landowners of Mt. Panié to focus on improved livelihoods through better management of the protected area and ecotourism development. The group has been chosen to represent Province Nord on the Environment Advising Committee of the New Caledonian government, and also serves with the “Ensemble pour la Planète”, a group of 34 non-government organizations working toward sustainable development in the territory.

Since the start of Dayu Biik, its membership has grown from six tribes to 16, and the municipal government of Hienghène has brought it into local development initiatives. Dayu Biik activities include environmental education programs for elementary schools, training of tribe members to guide hikes and expeditions, and creating a network of trails and interpretive signage for Province Nord’s growing tourism industry, as well as conducting and assisting with research on endemic and threatened species.

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